Correspond, Don't Compliment
Sure you liked the book. You might even have loved, adored, or been excited by the author's words. But if your letter is nothing more than a list of compliments, then you are missing the purpose of this assignment - to share with the author how his or her book changed the way you see the world or yourself. The excerpt below from the opening paragraphs of a letter to Phyllis Whitney is really a fan letter. The student-writer is guilty of complementing instead of corresponding.
I am writing this letter to you as a pleased reader. As I dove into your book, Sea Jade, I felt both humbled and inspired. Sometimes I feel confused at how an author can pack so much emotion into one small book. It's like a new world is opened at just the flipping of a page. Speaking from a future author's point of view, I can tell you your book was a great creation. Yours was truly a wonderful tale of adventure, excitement, and wonder that I found incredible. Good job! Keep writing!
How do you correspond instead of compliment? The key is writing a reader's response. A response can be many things: a feeling not felt before, a memory, or an action taken as a result of reading. It can also be a sudden understanding or insight. The author's words pull the chain on the light bulb inside your head and you go, Aha!
The writer of the letter above knows Sea Jade had a powerful effect on her, but she fails to express what exactly that effect is. For example, she could have told Phyllis Whitney why she felt inspired, why she felt humbled, or what action she was inspired to take. In short, the writer did not develop her ideas.
Click here to complete this activity.
Sure you liked the book. You might even have loved, adored, or been excited by the author's words. But if your letter is nothing more than a list of compliments, then you are missing the purpose of this assignment - to share with the author how his or her book changed the way you see the world or yourself. The excerpt below from the opening paragraphs of a letter to Phyllis Whitney is really a fan letter. The student-writer is guilty of complementing instead of corresponding.
I am writing this letter to you as a pleased reader. As I dove into your book, Sea Jade, I felt both humbled and inspired. Sometimes I feel confused at how an author can pack so much emotion into one small book. It's like a new world is opened at just the flipping of a page. Speaking from a future author's point of view, I can tell you your book was a great creation. Yours was truly a wonderful tale of adventure, excitement, and wonder that I found incredible. Good job! Keep writing!
How do you correspond instead of compliment? The key is writing a reader's response. A response can be many things: a feeling not felt before, a memory, or an action taken as a result of reading. It can also be a sudden understanding or insight. The author's words pull the chain on the light bulb inside your head and you go, Aha!
The writer of the letter above knows Sea Jade had a powerful effect on her, but she fails to express what exactly that effect is. For example, she could have told Phyllis Whitney why she felt inspired, why she felt humbled, or what action she was inspired to take. In short, the writer did not develop her ideas.
Click here to complete this activity.